Kovarik, Jiri (2013) From Immunosuppression to Immunomodulation: Current Principles and Future Strategies. Pathobiology, 80 (6). pp. 275-281. ISSN PMID: 24013771

Abstract

Over the last few decades tremendous progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms of immune responses. This progress has also lead to a more detailed knowledge of the processes leading to the loss of self-tolerance and self-tissue destruction in the case of autoimmune diseases, the effector mechanism involved in transplant allograft rejection as well as on the driving factors in exacerbated inflammatory disorders. Despite this progress, the challenge still remains to selectively interfere with immune responses responsible for autoimmunity or transplant rejection while keeping an intact response to infectious agents. Such a selective interference has to date been difficult to achieve as highlighted by the fact that an overall increased risk for infections and malignancy continue to be the most frequent side effects of the currently used immunosuppressive principles. Nevertheless, although discovered several decades ago many of the “first generation” immunosuppressive principles such as steroids, Methotrexate and Cyclosporine A are still in clinical use, demonstrating the therapeutic value of these drugs for the patients that are in need. In this review the author describes the mode of action of the currently most used immunosuppressive agents (not attempting to cover all principles that are available) and expands on recent activities in the discovery and development of novel immune-modulatory principles.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Immunosuppression Immunomodulation Mechanisms therapeutic principles
Date Deposited:	13 Oct 2015 13:13
Last Modified:	13 Oct 2015 13:13
URI:	https://oak.novartis.com/id/eprint/9230